Agitator.



Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

rn' E 5%! la-% 51 I i i ii.

g gg g g g D. H. SHERMAN.

AGITATOR. .APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 27, 1908.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

7H5 umzms PETERS pa, WASHINGTON, n. :4

DAVID H. SHERMAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AGITATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed January 27, 1908. Serial No. 412,947.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID H. SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in A itator-s, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an agitator for ore slimes, especially for those which are produced in the cyanid process of gold re duction, and the prime object thereof is to provide an agitator which will so thoroughly mix the cyanid solution with the sliines that all the gold in the slimes is completely taken up by the solution; and an object also is to provide means whereby the solution may be efficiently separated from the slimes and drawn off. To this end I employ an agitator vat into which the slimes and cyanid solution are placed. This vatcontains revoluble agitators which thoroughly mix the solution with the slimes, thus allowing the solution to come in contact with all the gold therein. Means are further provided for the saparate removal of the cyanid solution containing the gold and the slimes, the slimes being thrown away and the gold being precipitated out of the solution by any approved process.

I accomplish the above by the device described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1.is a plan view of my improved agitator. Fig. 2,-is a cross section of the same taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3,- is an end view of the agitator showing the operating mechanism thereof. Fig. 4,is a longitudinal section taken on line 4.4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings 5 designates a vat or other receptacle which is constructed of such size as to operate upon a suitable amount of material at one time. This vat is preferably constructed of wood although it may be made of any suitable metal which will resist the action of the solutions placed therein. Vat 5 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal shafts 6, which I have illustrated as five in number but which may be of any suitable number depending upon the size and capacity of the agitator. These shafts are preferably journaled in bearings 7 mounted on the ends of the vat and pro ject through one end of the vat to carry sprocket wheels or gears for their operation. Each of shafts 6 is provided with a plurality of agitation vanes or paddles 8 which are mounted on the shafts in staggered relation to each other so that they may pass without interfering. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the shafts are so arranged that the paddles cover the entire space and agitate the complete contents of the vat. Each of the shafts is provided with a sprocket wheel 9 on its outer end and sprocket chains 10 rotatively con nect diagonally opposite shafts 7, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that the shafts on the opposite corners of the square arrangement illustrated rotate in the same direction. Two shafts 7 are provided with sprocket wheels 11 which are driven by sprocket chains 12 from counter shafts 13. These counter shafts are driven by belts 1 1 from a line shaft 15-which is driven by any convenient source of power, belts 14 being arranged to drive one of shafts 13 in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. Thus it will be seen that shafts 6 are driven in the relative directions shown by the arrows in Fig. 2 and the slimes and solutions within the vat are thoroughly mixed by the opposite rotation of the adjacent sets of vanes. The outer ends of the vanes are also turned at approximately an angle of 15 to act as propellers and exert a longitudinal pressure upon the slimes, thereby forcing a circulation in the vat longitudinally as well as transversely. The lowermost shaft 6 is driven by a sprocket connection 16 from one of the counter shafts 13 and may be driven in either direction. Clutches 17 are provided on counter shafts 13 so that either set of shafts may be driven as is desired.

Vat 5 is provided with a V-shaped bottom 18 which terminates at its lower end in a cylindrical casing 19 adapted to contain a longitudinal conveyer screw 20 supported in bearings 21 at the ends of the casing. One end of casing 19 is permanently closed, as at 2-2, while the other end is provided with a discharge spout 23 and a hinged closure '3. Shaft 24, upon which screw 20 is mounted, is provided on its outer end with a sprocket wheel 25 operated by a chain 26 from lower counter shaft 13, a clutch 27 being provided to control the rotation of the screw.

In the operation of my improved agitator the slimes and cyanid solution are first fed in by any convenient means (not shown) while all of shafts 6 are rotating to thoroughly mix the solution with the slimes.

This iniXing operation is continued after the vats have been filled until all the gold in the slimes has been taken up by the solution when the operation is stopped and the slimes allowed to settle. After a suiiicient length of time to allow a clear solution to accumulate at the top of the vat this solution is gradually drawn off through a series of spaced pipes 28 which are provided with valves 29. By means of these pipes and their controlling valves the solution is gradually drawn off down to the level of the slimes and is then passed to the zinc vats where the gold is precipitated by the usual process. ater is then fed into the vat to wash out of the slimes any solution which is still held therein.

Near the bottom of the vat and on each side thereof is a perforated pipe 30 which is supplied with air or water under pressure by a pipe 31 from any convenient source of pressure. At times when the slimes are so thick and heavy as to render it impossible to start the vanes this air or water is forced into the slimes until they are agitated and loosened 'sufliciently to allow one of the sets of vanes to be started. After one set has been started the slimes quickly become loosened and the other sets may then be operated. By this operation the water is mixed with the slimes and washes out all of the solution which is drawn off as above eX- plained. The operation of screw 20 is then started and the slimes are removed from the bottom of the vat.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An agitator comprising a vat having an inclined bottom, a revoluble screw at the lowermost part of said vat, a plurality of shafts journaled in said vat, said shafts each being provided with a plurality of vanes mounted thereon, and a plurality of spaced outlet pipes connecting with the upper part of said vat.

2. An agitator for slimes comprising a vat having a double inclined bottom, a screw situated in said vat at its lowermost part' and connecting with an outlet therein, means to revolve said screw, means to force fiuld under pressure into the slimes in said vat, a

plurality of shafts journaled in said vat, each of said shafts being provided with radial vanes mounted thereon, means to rotate said shafts, and a plurality of spaced outlet pipes connecting with the upper part of said vat. w

vat, a plurality of vertically spaced outlet pipes leading from said vat, and means to force fluid under pressure into the contents of said vat. 7 '7 In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of January, 1908.

D. H. SHERMAN.

Witnesses EDMUND A STRAUSE, OLLIE PALMER. 

